Compliance
Framework Overview
Every stage of Meridian's supply chain is designed around EU food safety and deforestation regulation requirements. The following frameworks govern our operations.
Food Safety Management System
Meridian's FSMS is certified to ISO 22000:2018 — the internationally recognised standard for food safety management. Our system integrates HACCP principles with the PDCA cycle, covering all stages from raw material intake through to finished product dispatch. Internal audits are conducted quarterly; surveillance audits by Bureau Veritas are conducted annually.
Key Elements
- —Documented FSMS scope and policy
- —Hazard identification and risk matrix
- —Operational prerequisites (oPRPs)
- —HACCP plan with validated CCPs
- —Traceability system — batch-level, 4-hour recall capability
- —Management review records
- —Non-conformance and corrective action system
- —Supplier approval and monitoring programme
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points
Our 7-principle HACCP plan was developed and validated by an accredited food safety consultant and verified by SGS Ghana. Two Critical Control Points have been identified and are monitored continuously during production. The HACCP plan is reviewed annually or following any significant process change.
Key Elements
- —CCP1 — Incoming material: moisture (max 7.5%), aflatoxin B1 (max 4 ppb), foreign material
- —CCP2 — Pre-shipment: CoA verification, microbiological count, heavy metal confirmation
- —Monitoring procedures: frequency, responsible person, records
- —Corrective actions: defined response for each CCP deviation
- —Verification: internal lab + external SGS confirmation quarterly
- —HACCP records retained minimum 3 years post-dispatch
EU Deforestation Regulation (2023/1115)
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 requires that operators placing cocoa and cocoa products on the EU market demonstrate the product was not produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020. Meridian sources exclusively through COCOBOD-licensed channels and maintains GPS-verified farm data packages for every lot processed.
Key Elements
- —Farm registration: GPS polygon coordinates for all supplier farms
- —Satellite screening: JRC Global Forest Watch cross-reference per farm
- —Deforestation-free verification: cut-off date December 31, 2020
- —Chain-of-custody documentation from farm to processing facility
- —EUDR due diligence statement (DDS) prepared per export lot
- —DDS reference numbers downloadable via client portal
- —Data retained for minimum 5 years per EUDR Article 10
Ghana Cocoa Board Licensing
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) regulates cocoa quality and marketing in Ghana. Meridian holds a valid processing and export license issued by COCOBOD, ensuring all beans are purchased through licensed buying clerks and all exports conform to Ghana's minimum export quality standards (Grade I).
Key Elements
- —COCOBOD Processor License — annual renewal
- —Purchasing through COCOBOD-licensed Buying Clerks only
- —Quality Certification: Grade I cocoa beans minimum
- —Export Certificate issued by COCOBOD per consignment
- —Compliance with Ghana Cocoa Industry (Regulation) Law 1968
- —Annual third-party quality audit by COCOBOD inspectors
Request Compliance
Documentation
Contracted clients may request copies of our ISO 22000 certificate, HACCP plan summary, EUDR farm data packages, and COCOBOD license via the client portal or by formal written request to our quality team.
Documents Available to Clients
- ISO 22000:2018 Certificate (current scope)
- HACCP Plan Summary (non-proprietary version)
- EUDR Farm GPS Data Packages (per lot)
- EUDR Due Diligence Statements (DDS)
- Certificates of Analysis (per batch)
- Phytosanitary Certificates
- COCOBOD Export Certificates
- Chain-of-Custody Documentation